If you’re a PS4 owner who’s spent hundreds of hours robbing banks, pulling off heists, and cruising Los Santos in GTA 5, you’re probably asking when is gta 6 coming out ps4. I’ve been playing GTA games on PlayStation consoles since GTA 3 first dropped on PS2, so I get the frustration of wanting to play the next big entry without shelling out for a new console right away. GTA 6 is easily one of the most anticipated video games of all time, marking Rockstar’s first mainline GTA entry in over 15 years, and there’s a ton of confusion around which consoles it will support. This guide breaks down all official statements, credible leaks, and realistic expectations for PS4 owners waiting to get their hands on the game.
Official Rockstar Statements About GTA 6 PS4 Support
Rockstar first officially confirmed GTA 6 was in development back in 2022, and dropped the first full trailer in December 2023, alongside a short press release with initial launch details. Rockstar’s official 2023 press release only listed PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC as confirmed launch platforms for GTA 6. There was no mention of PS4 or Xbox One anywhere in the announcement, and the official Rockstar website still does not list PS4 as a supported platform for the game.
Back when GTA 5 launched in 2013, it came out on PS3 and Xbox 360 first, then got a port to PS4 and Xbox One a year later, and then another port to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S almost a decade after that. That pattern made a lot of players assume GTA 6 would follow the same cross-gen release plan, but the gaming landscape is way different now than it was 10 years ago. When fans have asked about PS4 support on Rockstar’s official support channels, representatives have consistently redirected users to the official GTA 6 page, with no additional confirmation of a last-gen release.
When Is GTA 6 Coming Out on PS4? Realistic Expected Timelines
The confirmed initial launch window for GTA 6 is 2025, exclusively for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and later PC. If Rockstar ever does decide to release a PS4 port of the game, it won’t arrive anywhere near that initial 2025 launch date. Based on past Rockstar release patterns, a last-gen port would take at least 1 to 2 years of extra development work after the current-gen launch, putting the earliest possible PS4 release date at 2026 or 2027, if it ever happens at all.
Many fake leak accounts have spread false claims of a 2026 PS4 launch for GTA 6, but none of these have been verified by official sources. It’s important to take all unconfirmed leaks with a grain of salt, especially when they come from accounts that have a history of posting false information to drive clicks. Most industry analysts agree that a PS4 port of GTA 6 would require cutting so many core features that the experience would be unrecognizable compared to the current-gen version. The PS4’s hardware is over 11 years old at this point, and it can’t support the advanced AI, massive open world, dynamic weather systems, and hundreds of on-screen NPCs Rockstar is building for GTA 6.
The shrinking PS4 user base also makes a port less financially viable for Rockstar. As of 2024, Sony has sold over 60 million PS5 units worldwide, and PS4 sales have dropped significantly as more players upgrade to current-gen hardware. The number of active PS4 players who would actually buy a full-priced copy of GTA 6 is getting smaller every year, so investing millions of dollars into a PS4 port doesn’t make much business sense for Rockstar right now.
Pros and Cons of Rockstar Releasing GTA 6 for PS4
There are valid arguments on both sides of the debate around a GTA 6 PS4 port, and Rockstar has not fully ruled out the possibility as of now. We’ve broken down the biggest pros and cons of a last-gen release for both players and Rockstar:
- Potential upside for Rockstar: Access to the remaining 117 million PS4 owners worldwide, many of whom haven't upgraded to PS5 yet due to cost or past stock shortages.
- Major downside for players: A PS4 port would have severe graphical downgrades, longer load times, fewer on-screen NPCs, and possibly cut content like dynamic random world events that only work on more powerful hardware.
- Operational cost for Rockstar: Building a PS4 port would require a separate dedicated development team, adding 1-2 years of extra work, and delaying planned DLC or GTA 6 Online updates for current-gen players.
Most industry insiders agree that the downsides far outweigh the upsides for Rockstar at this stage of the console generation. Rockstar has built its reputation on releasing polished, genre-defining open world games, and releasing a heavily downgraded version of GTA 6 on 11-year-old hardware would hurt the game’s reputation right out of the gate. The company also makes most of its long-term revenue from GTA Online, and splitting the player base between last-gen and current-gen would make it harder to support consistent updates for all users.
What PS4 Owners Can Do While Waiting for GTA 6 News
If you only own a PS4 right now and don’t have plans to upgrade to a PS5 anytime soon, there are still plenty of things you can do while you wait for official GTA 6 news. First, don’t fall for fake pre-order listings for GTA 6 on PS4 from third-party retailers. No official pre-orders for any PS4 version exist right now, and you could end up losing your money or getting scammed if you buy from an untrustworthy seller.
If you want to get your GTA fix while you wait, GTA Online still gets regular free updates with new heists, vehicles, game modes, and events every few months, and it runs perfectly on PS4. You can also check out other excellent open world games that run great on last-gen hardware, like Red Dead Redemption 2, the updated version of Cyberpunk 2077, or the latest Saints Row reboot, to hold you over until GTA 6 news drops.
If you don't want to buy a PS5, keep in mind that GTA 6 will also come to PC a year or so after launch, so you can play it on a gaming laptop or desktop if you have one that meets the system requirements. If you do plan to upgrade to a PS5 eventually, you can keep an eye out for sales on used or refurbished consoles, or wait for the rumored slimmer PS5 model to launch, which will likely be cheaper than the current version. Make sure you only follow official Rockstar social media channels or trusted gaming news outlets for updates, to avoid falling for false leaks and rumors.
At the end of the day, the answer to when is gta 6 coming out ps4 is still not 100% clear, but all signs point to either a very delayed port or no port at all. It’s not what many long-time PS4 players want to hear, but it’s the realistic expectation based on all official info and industry trends right now. Don't waste money pre-ordering any supposed PS4 version of GTA 6 from third-party sellers, because no official listing exists as of now. If you’re really eager to play GTA 6 as soon as it launches, start saving for a PS5 or PC upgrade, or keep an eye out for official announcements from Rockstar if you’re holding out for a last-gen release. Either way, GTA 6 is shaping up to be worth the wait, no matter what platform you end up playing it on.
